Preparing for Your Custom Suit Fitting
Getting a custom suit made is one of those experiences everyone should have at least once (though once you do, it’s hard to go back to off the rack). There’s just something different about putting on a jacket that was made for you. Not just your size, but your shape, your proportions, even your personality. At Capitol Hill Clothiers, we love helping clients get that feeling. But to make your fitting go smoothly (and get the best results), there are a few simple things you can do before you come in.
The Introductory Call
If you haven’t already done so, schedule your introductory call using the link in the email you received or on the confirmation page after submitting your inquiry. During this call, we will go over the specifics of your request in more detail, which helps us make sure to bring the right fabrics for your needs (If we don’t know you need a tuxedo as well, we might not bring special event fabrics!) We will also hone in on your vision for your custom lining, fit style, and design preferences, though the real work will happen during your fitting. We’ll go over your timeline for upcoming events/travels, clarify your drink/cigar preferences, and lastly, schedule your fitting.
If you have any reference images, inspiration photos, or mood boards related to your clothing needs, feel free to send them after the intro call! The more context we have for what your style goals are, the better we can do for you.
List of things to be prepared to discuss
The details of your inquiry: Your style vision, clothing needs, use cases, upcoming events/travels, etc.
Your current sizing for jacket, pants, dress shirts, and knitwear
Your availability for a fitting, including preferred dates, times, and deadlines
Your custom lining options: We don’t need a decision made on the call, but it’s good to get the gears turning for what you might like to see inside your jacket!
The details of your drink preferences: What type of bourbon, scotch, wine, etc. you prefer, as well as whether or not you like cigars! If so, we’ll bring one for you to enjoy after the fitting.
The Capitol Hill Clothiers process, including your complementary wardrobe audit, photoshoot, and what to expect from your fitting. Remember: Capitol Hill Clothiers comes to you, so we’ll be asking for your address and scheduling around your home availability.
Before the Appointment: What to Know and Have on Hand
There are a few things we always ask that you have handy for your fitting to make things easier:
Your current best-fitting jacket, dress pants, and dress shirt for reference. We’ll evaluate what you do and don’t like about it in order to make you custom garment better.
Ladies, be sure to be wearing the type of bra you would be wearing with a suit. Measurements over the wrong bra could mean the wrong measurements, resulting in a jacket that doesn’t fit the way you want it to.
If you do want to take advantage of your complementary wardrobe audit, make sure your closet is ready to sort through. This means everything in its place, items you are unsure about selected and set out for review, and a prepared idea of what direction you’d like your style to go.
The Fitting: What to Expect
Upon our arrival to your home or office, libations are the first order of business. A quick cheers will get things started, followed by connecting to your wifi network.
During your fitting, we will go through the fabric books curated for you, selecting the ones that speak to you and making sure they pair well with your existing wardrobe. If you’ve never looked through fabric swatches before, this guide might be helpful in preparation!
The next step is measurement. We will start by analyzing your shoulder slope, then take comprehensive body measurements to make sure everything we make fits you. You will also be given access to the Capitol Hill Clothiers portal, which enables you to peruse fabrics, design your own garments, and add them to your wishlist for future purchases.
We usually allot about 2 hours for a first-time fitting. This gives us time for your wardrobe audit, ensures you don’t feel rushed in your fabric selection, and that we don’t feel rushed in our measurements. We want the process to be comfortable, valuable, and never salesy.
After the First Fitting: What Comes Next
Now it’s our turn. Your pattern is drawn, cut, and crafted to your specifications based on the measurements we took. In between 4-6 weeks, we’ll bring you a finished garment for another fitting to tweak anything that may need adjusting.
It’s possible that it will take another round or two to get things exactly right—that’s normal. The goal is to make sure your suit fits perfectly and feels effortless every time you put it on.
Once your garments are finalized, you’ll be offered a complimentary photoshoot from Capitol Hill Photo to show off your new custom suit.
The fitting process is a lot of fun for us, and we strive to make it so for you as well. If there’s any way we can guarantee that, let us know! We look forward to working with you.
